The Caversham Community Group was started this year to investigate ways to make the suburb radiant.
''There are some ... terribly rundown buildings,'' member Gavin Mockford said.
''It's about bringing a little something back to Caversham so you're proud to walk down the street.''
The group planned large colourful murals to be painted on buildings, both empty and tenanted.
Member Sandra Jones hoped the murals would stop graffiti in Caversham and attract new businesses there.
But the group needed paint - exterior paint or spray paint - for the murals, she said.
Member Guy Howard-Smith said the first mural on the side of the Fairway Takeaways building would be of a boy ''reaching for the stars'', a design to encourage children to aim high.
He hoped to start painting the mural in late spring.
Mr Mockford said the group wanted community feedback on designs for future murals.
Mr Howard-Smith said possible designs included a Caversham heritage theme of a tram, a past emporium and butchery, Chinese gold-miners and a velvet worm: ''things Caversham can identify with and be proud of''.
Presbyterian Support Otago community development social worker Noora Frantz said the social service organisation was the project facilitator and was waiting for
Dunedin City Council consent for the painting to start.
Paint for the project could be donated at Stepping Stones, 186 Macandrew Rd, South Dunedin, she said.
